Hen has rooster like tail feathers?

[HarleyBarley]

Is this typical? She doesnt crow but her tail feathers are longer than normal. Also has some very soft feathers at the base of her tail.

She is supposedly a 1 year old hen but I'm starting to be suspicious of this.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Thats an Easter Egger cockerel!!!! Surprised he hasn’t crowed yet!!!!

 

[HarleyBarley]

Thats an Easter Egger cockerel!!!! Surprised he hasn’t crowed yet!!!!

There's no spurs!!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I have an Easter Egger/Blue Splash Marans rooster without any spurs. He has little nubs like your handsome fella. He is a gentle soul.

 

[HarleyBarley]

How old do you think he is?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

My guess he is close to a year old as you stated. Is he merged in with a flock of hens? If so, you will see him mounting the ladies.

 

[HarleyBarley]

My guess he is close to a year old as you stated. Is he merged in with a flock of hens? If so, you will see him mounting the ladies.

No mounting, no crowing. Very docile and hides. Would this mean he's full grown? Shouldn't he have reached total maturity by a year? This bird submissive squats for me.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Agreed, that's an easter egger rooster. He'll grow spurs soon enough.
The long flowy feathers at the base of his tail are exclusively male. Females can't grow them. The person who sold you him, if it was recent... they knew he was male before they sold him. There's no hiding his male characteristics.

 

[HarleyBarley]

Agreed, that's an easter egger rooster. He'll grow spurs soon enough.
The long flowy feathers at the base of his tail are exclusively male. Females can't grow them. The person who sold you him, if it was recent... they knew he was male before they sold him. There's no hiding his male characteristics.

They said, "We half-ass think that's a rooster, but we half ass think that's our green egg layer" They said they have a rooster return 100% guarantee--- now we're trying to decide if we want to keep him or return him for a hen....
Our girls are free range so there might be a benefit to having a rooster but it's also somewhat intimidating

 

[Frazzemrat1]

They said, "We half-ass think that's a rooster, but we half ass think that's our green egg layer" They said they have a rooster return 100% guarantee--- now we're trying to decide if we want to keep him or return him for a hen....
Our girls are free range so there might be a benefit to having a rooster but it's also somewhat intimidating

I understand! The only real reason for a rooster in the flock is breeding. If you don't intend to breed, I wouldn't bother with a rooster. The lead hen will be just as observant and protective of the flock as any rooster. To be honest, most of the time if a predator appears, roosters head for cover just as fast as the hens. They might turn and attack, but in truth they're probably sacrificing themselves.